Supreme Court to hear arguments in Maryland 'gerrymandering' case

[TexasTowelie]

The Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a Maryland redistricting case that has the potential to reshape how congressional boundaries are drawn nationwide.

Seven Republican voters living in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District contend that the state’s 2011 redistricting violated their First Amendment rights because it amounted to retaliation for their reliable GOP support.

In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one, Maryland’s Democratic mapmakers have turned an eight-member House delegation that was split evenly between the parties in 2000 into one that now has seven Democrats and one Republican.

The 2011 map helped Democratic Rep. John Delaney oust Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in the 6th District. That district now includes Democratic portions of Montgomery and Frederick counties as well as the heavily Republican Maryland panhandle.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-supreme-court-redistricting-20180327-story.html

[elleng]

1. Could be important.

Last edited Wed Mar 28, 2018, 12:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Concerning, too.

Good thing: 'The 2011 map helped Democratic Rep. John Delaney oust Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in the 6th District.' And helped get Chris VanHollen into a strong Dem seat in DC suburb.

Concern: 'That district now includes Democratic portions of Montgomery and Frederick counties as well as the heavily Republican Maryland panhandle.' Kind of looks like a salamander.